Can I Lower my Risk of Ovarian Cancer? Screening and Prevention

This is the fourth article in the Understanding Ovarian Cancer Guide. This guide was developed by the HealthTree Education Team and was last updated and reviewed on May 20, 2026

Ovarian cancer is challenging to detect early because the ovaries sit deep within the pelvis and early symptoms are often subtle. Unlike skin cancer or breast cancer, there is currently no recommended screening test that has been shown to save lives in women at average risk. However, certain steps can lower risk, and people at high risk have additional surveillance and prevention options.

Ovarian cancer screening for high-risk women

Screening means looking for cancer before there are any signs or symptoms. For people at high risk of ovarian cancer, for example, those with a BRCA1, BRCA2, or Lynch syndrome mutation, or a strong family history, doctors may recommend a combination of tests, even though these tests have limitations:

Transvaginal ultrasound

A small probe is inserted into the vagina to create images of the ovaries and uterus. It can find masses on or near the ovaries but cannot reliably tell whether a mass is cancer.

CA-125 blood test

CA-125 is a protein in the blood that is often elevated in people with ovarian cancer. However, CA-125 levels can also be elevated in noncancerous conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, or pelvic inflammatory disease, and some people with ovarian cancer have normal CA-125 levels. CA-125 is most useful for following the response to treatment in someone already diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Pelvic examination

During a pelvic exam, a doctor manually examines the pelvic organs. Pelvic exams rarely find early ovarian cancer but may identify larger masses.

Reducing your risk of ovarian cancer

Although ovarian cancer cannot be entirely prevented, several strategies can lower risk:

• Genetic counseling and testing. If you have a personal or family history that suggests hereditary cancer syndrome, genetic counseling can help you understand your risk. Genetic testing for BRCA1, BRCA2, Lynch syndrome, and other genes can guide screening, prevention, and treatment decisions.
• Risk-reducing surgery. For women with BRCA1, BRCA2, or other high-risk mutations, surgery to remove the fallopian tubes and ovaries (risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy, or RRSO) is the most effective way to lower the risk of ovarian cancer, typically by 80% or more. This is usually recommended after childbearing is complete and around age 35–40 for BRCA1 carriers and 40–45 for BRCA2 carriers.
• Opportunistic salpingectomy. Because many ovarian cancers begin in the fallopian tubes, removing the fallopian tubes, without removing the ovaries, at the time of other pelvic surgery, such as hysterectomy or tubal ligation, is increasingly recommended as a way to lower future ovarian cancer risk while preserving ovarian hormone function.
• Oral contraceptives. Birth control pills have been shown to lower ovarian cancer risk, especially with longer use. The protective effect may last for decades after stopping. Talk to your doctor about benefits and risks.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Having children and breastfeeding are associated with a lower risk of ovarian cancer.
• Maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle. While the impact on ovarian cancer risk is modest, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and not smoking support overall health and may reduce risk.

Awareness and early evaluation of symptoms

Because there is no reliable screening test for ovarian cancer in average-risk women, knowing the symptoms and seeking prompt evaluation are essential. Symptoms that are new, persistent, and frequent, particularly bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary urgency, should be discussed with a doctor. A symptom diary can help you track changes over time.